Hilo man arrested after reportedly crashing his vehicle on Wainaku Bridge, forcing its closure

A single-vehicle crash on Hilo’s Wainaku Bridge this morning, which resulted in its closure for most of Tuesday, led to the arrest of 27-year-old Austin Dasalla-Iriarte.

Hawai‘i Island police responded to the collision just after midnight. When they arrived on scene they found an unoccupied 2005 Honda Pilot sports utility vehicle that had struck the concrete reinforced bridge railing and sustained heavy front-end damage.

No driver was found after officers searched the immediate area.

Due to the collision, a section of the bridge railing was severed. County of Hawai‘i Department of Public Works Highway Division staff where contacted and responded to the scene. They determined that the bridge needed to be closed indefinitely until an inspection of the structural integrity of the bridge is conducted.

Later Tuesday morning, the driver, later identified as Dasalla-Iriarte, contacted police and attempted to report that the vehicle involved in the crash had been stolen, however, investigating officers were able to determine that the Hilo man was involved in the vehicle collision.

Officers charged Dasalla-Iriarte with the following offenses:

• False reporting to law enforcement authorities
• Accidents involving damage to vehicle or property
• Driving without a valid driver’s license
• No motor vehicle insurance
• Inattention to driving

His bail was set at $5,300, and he remains in custody at the East Hawai‘i Detention Center.

Police ask anyone who may have additional information on this traffic collision to call the police department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.